Rev. Robert J. Carroll

Rev. Robert J. Carroll, Sr., age 82 of Leesburg, passed peacefully on Friday, December 3, 2021.

Born in Fort Gay, West Virginia, on May 28, 1939, Bob was the son of the late Floyd W. and Grace Smith Carroll.

He was preceded in death by his children’s mother, Beverly Jean Carroll, who passed in December 2000.  Additionally, his death was preceded by seven brothers, Ray Carroll, Roy Carroll, Lando (Red) Carroll, Henry Carroll, Floyd W. Carroll Jr., Tom Carroll, and David Carroll, along with one sister, Ruth Ball.

Rev. Carroll had retired from the Ministry after serving 50 years with the Churches of Christ in Christian Union. He Pastored in Leesburg, Ohio, for over half his 50-year Ministerial career. He loved spending time with friends and family, especially his collective church family. There were two primary ‘passions’ in Preacher Bob’s life: a passion for the lost and bringing them to Christ and a passion for bringing a basketball to the center of the hoop. He lived a focused life around “aim small, miss small", and “Give every day 100%".  Among Bob’s basketball accolades was participating in his High School basketball State Championship, where he scored over 84 points in 3 games. This helped to solidify a full-ride basketball scholarship to a Kentucky College. Other accolades included his induction into West Virginia’s High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Aside from basketball, the ‘center of his hoop’ was influencing others toward a Christian life. The word LOVE can be expressed as, “A choice of your will to serve and sacrifice for those you influence.” He certainly fulfilled that expression of love for the lost. His influence for Christ and a life of “NO Reserve, NO Retreat, and NO Regrets” became evident through the changed lives of those he ministered to.

“Preacher Bob”, as we all knew him, is survived by his loving wife Gayle Worley Carroll; daughter, Kimberly Joann (Randall) Writsel, and son, Robert J. (Kim) Carroll Jr.  Also left to cherish his memory are grandchildren: Jennifer Writsel, Ryan Carroll, and Grace Elizabeth Carroll, along with many brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren of Gayle Worley’s family, who endearingly called him “Uncle Bob”.

A private funeral service will be held at Heritage Church, Washington Court House, Ohio.   A family-only graveside service, at White Oak Cemetery, Buena Vista, Ohio, will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any who wish to send their condolences please do so by donating in honor of Rev. Robert Carroll, to Ohio Christian University, 1476 Lancaster Pike, Circleville, Ohio 43113, or Heritage Church, 1867 Old U.S 35 NW, Washington Court House, OH 43160.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Leesburg Community Room at the Leesburg Fire Department on Saturday, May 14, 2022.  The service will begin promptly at 2pm and visitation and fellowship, along with light refreshments, will follow until 4pm.

All family, community friends, and church family are welcome to attend this spring celebration .